Ombré is a gradual blending of one color into another, moving from light to dark or from one shade to a completely different color. The word comes from French, where it means “shaded.”

You see ombré effects everywhere once you start looking. A sunset shows natural ombré as the sky transitions from deep orange near the horizon to purple and then dark blue overhead. Hair stylists create ombré looks by lightening hair gradually from dark roots to blonde tips. Fabric designers use ombré patterns where blue might slowly fade into white, or pink might blend smoothly into orange.

What makes something ombré instead of just striped or spotted is that smooth, gradual transition. There are no harsh lines where one color stops and another starts. Think of how watercolors blend together on wet paper, or how the ocean might look turquoise near the shore but deep blue farther out. Artists achieve ombré effects by carefully mixing colors or layering them so your eye sees a gentle shift rather than a sudden change. The technique works with any colors. You could create an ombré drawing that goes from yellow to green, or paint an ombré wall that shifts from light gray to charcoal.